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Saturday, 15 March 2014

Countdown to DIVERGENT - Faction Day: ABNEGATION

As part of the countdown to DIVERGENT, fan sites have got together to
post something new everyday until the movie hits theaters. Today kicks off Faction Days, and in turn we'll be dedicating the next 7 days to all 5 factions, plus the factionless, and the Divergent.
We're beginning with the first faction we are introduced to, the Abnegation, in which Tris is born into:

In Divergent, society is divided into 5 factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue.

HOW FACTIONS ARE CHOSEN

Each
year, all 16 year old's are required to take an Aptitude Test. The
purpose of the test is to discover a disposition towards one of the five
traits of the five factions (left). It provides a good indication of
what faction a person should choose based on his/her predominant
characteristic.

The next day in the Choosing Ceremony test-takers must
choose which
faction they will enter into. They can either leave their family and
choose an entirely new faction or they can remain where they are. The
aptitude test result should be taken into account but the decision is
ultimately their choice.

HISTORY:
Abnegation was formed by those who blamed selfishness for human nature's
errors. They believe in selfless actions and attaining peace through
the elimination of selfishness. By doing so, they choose to completely
forget themselves and only serve others.

My curiosity is a mistake, a betrayal of Abnegation values. -Tris (Pg 12)

ABNEGATION SECTOR: The houses in the Abnegation sector resemble military-style housing. All are painted the same neutral tone and personalization of the exterior is strictly prohibited.

"The houses on my street are all the same size and shape. They are
made of gray cement, with few windows, in economical, no-nonsense
rectangles. To some the sight might be gloomy, but to me their simplicity is
comforting."

TRAITS: Sit
quietly and wait. Bow heads, a sign of respect, when greeting each other. Not manipulative, but not forthright. Their morally incorruptible quality makes them the only reasonable faction to be able to govern the city as political leaders. Leaders are typically hand-picked from Abnegation, as it is
generally believed that the faction's desire to put others before
themselves are the key factors for true leadership that renders a ruling
government incorruptible.

Members are expected to be compliant to others at all times, even if
that person is in Abnegation as well. They take the stairs and allow the
elevators to be used by others. It is not unnatural for strangers on
the streets to see an Abnegation helping them with anything such as
carrying their groceries or treating their injury. Immoral actions are
not a trait of an Abnegation such as the usage of guns for violence. The
faction mandates that guns be only used for self-defense.
Because of their apparent submissive nature, other
factions often think of them as weak.

When I look at the Abnegation lifestyle as an outsider, I think it’s
beautiful. When I watch my family move in harmony; when we go to dinner
parties and everyone cleans together afterward without having to be
asked; when I see Caleb help strangers carry their groceries, I fall in
love with this life all over again. It’s only when I try to live it
myself that I have trouble. It never feels genuine. -Tris (Pg 24)

PHYSICAL TRAITS: Clothing is gray or neutral toned and simple. This allows them to blend into the background in order to avoid calling attention to themselves. Their clothing is simply designed and loose, to encourage modesty. The only adornment allowed is a watch.
Female Abnegation typically wear their hair in a bun/knot.

Members are only allowed to stand in front of the mirror on the second day of every third month for a haircut.

ABNEGATION INITIATION: The initiates, who
will spend thirty days performing community service before they can become
full members, sit side by side on a bench while one of the older members
reads the Abnegation manifesto. Then all of the older members wash the
initiates feet. They all share a meal, each person serving food to
the person on his left.

NICKNAME: 'Stiffs'. Stiff is slang for Abnegation, and is commonly used by the Dauntless to
describe those from Abnegation.

RELATIONS:
On good terms with Amity; unknown relationship with Candor; on neutral
terms with Daunless but opposing views on violence. Abnegation transfers to Dauntless are
rare, as are
transfers to Erudite and vice-versa. Abnegation, despite being seen as peaceful, neutral, and calm, have a fierce ongoing rivalry with the Erudite.
Abnegation is in charge of the government, and the Erudite, who seek
power, believe that they are in fact selfish people who only provide for
their own faction. Parents and family of the
Abnegation who switched to Erudite cannot visit their children, as
Erudite have banned the Abnegation from entering their compound.

Few people who are born into Abnegation choose to leave it. When they do, we remember. -Tris (Pg 34)

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